One in five Americans is affected by heart failure in their lifetime. More than fifty percent of people with heart failure will die within five years of diagnosis. And by 2030, it is estimated that the prevalence of heart failure in the U.S. will increase by 22 percent. Shocking, isn’t it?
That’s why the American Heart Association is launching #RiseAboveHF—a nationwide awareness initiative that aims to change the course of heart failure in America through awareness, education, support and pledges.
This initiative caught my eye as the fight against heart failure is near and dear to my heart (no pun intended!). Helping people improve their cardiovascular health is a big part of what I do as a fitness professional and I often tell people that cardio exercise isn’t just about losing weight but also about exercising the heart. I remind the women that I work with that exercising is a way of loving your body not as a result of hating it. I also teach people how to eat healthy and how that can make a huge difference in their health. We often forget that heart disease is the number one killer of women in America. We all need to be proactive!
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My friend and past client, Jill, is the perfect example of this. Heart disease runs in Jill’s family and several of her family members have had heart attacks and heart disease. Several years ago, Jill had a routine check-up with her doctor and learned that her cholesterol and triglyceride levels were abnormally high. Because of her family history, her doctor recommended she start on medication. However, being under 40 years old, Jill didn’t want to be on medication the rest of her life, so she and I talked and decided to see how changing her diet and adding exercise could make a difference. Sure enough, three months later her cholesterol and triglyceride levels were back to normal and her doctor was shocked. To this day, Jill is still not on medication!
Chris & Jill
Just like with Jill’s experience, small changes can make a big difference when it comes to heart failure. A diagnosis is not the end and together we can rise above heart failure which is why I’m proud to join in this initiative with the American Heart Association. We can take control of our lives and it has always been my goal to empower others to make healthy changes in their own lives.
Share your Heartie!
#MyChangeofHeart is to help others improve their heart health by teaching workout classes 5 days a week!
Want to know how you can make a difference? The American Heart Association has several ways for you to get involved:
- Visit heart.org/riseabovehf and AHA’s Facebook page to learn more:
- Share a “Heartie” on social media with the hashtag #MyChangeofHeart and #RiseAboveHF
- Watch the informative and inspiring video and make a pledge
- Participate in one of AHA’s Heart Walks
Visit www.riseabovehf.org for more information.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Heart Association. The opinions and text are all mine.
